Fabric clamp



De.9,1969 KB) SANDERS 3,482,340

FABRI C CLAMP Filed Aug. 5, 1967 INVENTOR. KATHERINE B. SANDERS l BY il u" gm RL ATTORNEY Ultfd States `.latent O 3,482,340 FABRIC CLAMP Katherine B. Sanders, 1236 SE. 4th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33316 Filed Aug. 3, 1967, Ser. No. 658,158 Int. Cl. D06f 71/40; A41h 33/00 U.S. Cl. 38-12 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A clamping device for clamping sheets or any long bulky length of material to a base to aid in folding. A preferred embodiment of the device includes a pair of spaced and parallel brackets aixed to the base of the device and extending vertically from the base. Each bracket has a cam slot with a lower edge having a generally horizontal but slightly slanted portion merging into an upwardly and obliquely inclined ramp portion leading into a depressed cavity portion which is depressed relative to a hump at the upper end of the ramp portion. An unremovable clamping bar is received in the cam slots and extends between the brackets. The clamping bar rides on the lower edge of the cam slot and is held in position by a track at the upper edge of the cam slot. The clamping bar must rest in the depressed cavity above the base to provide room for inserting partly folded material under the bar and is activated by pulling the bar over the humps and down the ramp portions to the generally horizontal cam portions to engage partly folded material placed on the base so that the material can be pulled taut to aid in the folding process to look ironed.

This invention relates to a clamping apparatus for clamping folded sheets or the like in laundries and has particular reference to a clamp of elongated form that is fixed upon the top of a table or other work surface so that the operator may initially fold the sheets either straight or contour and clamp them beneath a bar that has traverse within cam slots formed in end brackets and with the end brackets having tabs at the opposite ends of the brac-kets to form finger engaging means that facilitate the movement of the clamping bar to and from a clamping position with respect to the sheets, blankets, etc.

The device also embodies a pad that is extruded from a :plastic material that covers a metal strip which extends between the brackets and is held to the work surface by screw devices, constituting a clamping surface upon which the sheets are engaged in the initial folded position and with the bar slidable downwardly to clamp the sheets upon the pad.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device and vise action will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein,

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a clamp constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view with holder bar in gripping position,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 3 3 of FIGURE 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a molded plastic pad that is adapted to form a component of the clamping action.

Referring specifically to the drawings, a work surface or table 5 constitutes the mounting means for a pair of spaced apart clamping brackets, indicated as a whole by the numeral 6.

Fixed upon the top of the table 5 is an elongated extruded plastic pad 7 that is hollow and adapted to be slipped over a metal base plate 7 and with the surface Patented Dec. 9, 1969 ofthe pad being molded to form ribs 8 and with a portion of the forward edge of the pad being provided with a ller strip 9 molded integral therewith. The'pad 7 is secured to the work surface of the table in any desirable manner, such as screws 11. The brackets 6 are provided with flanges 12 for the passage of screws or like fastening devices and the brackets .6 are molded from plastic that are thickened at the upper endby wall sections 20, preferably molded integral with the brackets. The plate 13 is provided with a: cam slot 16 terminating at its upper end in a seat 17 for a reduced portion 18 of a clamping bar .19. The cylindrical portion 18 of the clamping bar extends outwardly beyond the brackets and is provided with plastic hand grips 20 to facilitate the movement of the bar 19 through the slots 16. The forward end of each bracket is provided with a laterally extending ta'b Zlaund a corresponding thumb tab 22 is carried by the upper curved portion 13 thickened by the portion of the brackets. i

In the use of the device, with the bar 19 being positioned `in its uppermost position and resting upon the seat 17 at either end, a sheet is folded crosswise or'lengthwise into four sections then placed upon the pad 7, pulling the bar 19 downwardly, overriding the sheet and Securely clamping the sheet against the pad 7. The sheet or -blanket may be folded numerous times, but always adapted to be clamped against the pad 7 by the 'bar 19. The bar 19 is forced downwardly in a camming action to engage the surface of the folded sheet or blanket by pulling upon the hand grips 20 with the thumb against the Ltab 22, moving the bar 19 in its securely clamped position upon the surface of the folded sheets. After the sheet has been folded, it is released, by moving the bar 19 to its original position upon the seat .17.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of clamp has been provided for use in laundries and greatly facilitates the nal folding of the sheets both straight or contour. The parts are few and simple, are strong, durable, cheap to manufacture and most effective for clamping and holding folded sheets throughout the folding process and to greatly facilitate the linal folding of these articles. It is especially helpful in folding and stretching the permanent pressed sheets to look ironed.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall Within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A clamping device, comprising non-skid base means, a pair of spaced and parallel brackets affixed to said base means and extending vertically from said base means, each of said brackets having a cam slot therein with a lower edge having a generally horizontal vbut upwardly slanted portion merging at its upper end into an upwardly and obliquely inclined ramp portion leading into a cavity portion which is depressed slightly relative to a hump at the upper end of said ramp portion, each said cam slot also having a track at an upper edge thereof which extends parallel to said lower edge, and an unremovable clamping bar extending between said brackets and received in said cam slots, said clamping bar being adapted to rest in said depressed cavity portions above ysaid base to allow inserting partly folded flexible material under said bar and being movable by pulling said vbar over said humps and down said ramp portions to said generally horizontal but inclined portions where said clamping bar may engage the partly folded material on said non-skid base means to clamp said material while it is pulled taut to aid in completing the folding process to look ironed.

2. The device of claim 1 in which said base means ins 3 l y cludes a non-skid top surface between said brackets.

- V3. -The device of claim 2 in which-said top surface has gripping ribs extending longitudinally between said brackets. L

v 4. The device of claim 3 in which said top surface is 5 resilient. l

5. The device of claim 4 in which said brackets have thumb grips to facilitate activating the bar into clamping relation with the material. l

- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,471,034 10/1923 Jordan Q 24-136.2

1,857,724 i 5/ 1932 Kaminski 24-244 1,330,523-VHA Y2/1920W-Evitts et al. 24-126.2X 3,205,548 9/ 1965 Sanders et al. 24-250 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner GEORGE v. LAEKIN, Assistant Examiner 

